“No seriously, get your hands off my man” was my first impression of Tate McRae’s new album “So Close To What.” I couldn’t think of a more iconic line to open up with, as it not only set the tone for the entire album, but McRae sampled Sydney Sweeney’s voice on the opening track “Miss possessive.”
The album was released on Friday and immediately begins with this surge of confidence that can also be seen as threatening, marking her personal growth in her career.
In 2023, McRae released her sophomore album, “Think Later,” introducing a lot of people to her music — the song “Greedy” settled at number three on charts. While “Think Later” gave off a youthful rambunctious energy, “So Close To What” dives into her confidence and maturity.
Before the release of this album, McRae gave us a preview by releasing singles “It’s ok I’m ok,” “2 hands” and “Sports car.” With each song, we were introduced to a new side of her — as if she was taking us on her journey as she was moving on.
In the track “Revolving door,” we get a throwback to “Think Later.” As a big fan of that album, I was ecstatic that this particular song gave off that same youthful energy. The song implies that as McRae’s life continues on, she keeps going back to the same person. The song comes to a close with her words repeating, alluding to this cycle as she pleads, “I need a minute.”
The fourth track, “bloodonmyhands,” featuring Flo Milli, is both an upbeat yet emotional song. The song blends pop and hip-hop to make it a dance worthy song; throughout, it seems as if Flo Milli is almost daring McRae to become more powerful and independent.
The ninth track, “I know love,” featuring The Kid LAROI, McRae’s boyfriend, is an ode to the consuming love that they have for each other. The line “It’s a little like drugs / got you sick in the mornin’, down on your knees” perfectly encapsulates the raw, yet relatable, feeling of intoxicating love.
In a Tiktok video, McRae revealed that the eighth track, “Signs” is one of her favorites. This track takes us through the emotional nuances of miscommunication in a relationship, while staying upbeat and catchy.
Track fourteen, “Greenlight,” starts off a slower song then the rest of the album. The beat slowly picks up, as the lyrics describe this feeling of being emotionally stuck.
McRae sings, “I’m still waiting at the green light / … stuck up in a rewrite of the same song,” conveying the frustration of being unable to move forward.
One of the best songs on the album sits at track five, titled “Dear God.” Despite the title, there is nothing holy about it. Lyrically, this song plays like a prayer to a higher power, pleading for release from her emotional weight.
To close off, my two favorite tracks are “Nostalgia” and “Purple lace bra.”
The closing track on the album, “Nostalgia,” is a heartbreaking song about time passing. McRae revealed that the inspiration for this song stemmed from a conversation she had with her father.
The song reminisces of moments with her mom, dad and brother as she asks, “Oh, where does the time go?” The song does not fail to make me cry, and leaves the feeling of reflection.
My absolute favorite song on the album is the sixth track, “Purple lace bra.” This is a beautiful and powerful song calling out the media for their objectification of women.
McRae conveys the frustrating reality of not being seen or heard, only sexualized. This becomes clear in the line, “Would you hear me more if I whispered in your ear? / Made all my inner thoughts sound like, ‘Ah, ah.’” The lyrics touch upon the societal pressures that come with being a woman in the spotlight.
Lines like “My body positioning determines if you’re listening” and “You only listen when I’m undressed” encapsulates how overlooked and objectified women in the industry feel.
Three days after the album came out, she released a bonus track called “Siren sounds.” This song was teased and was originally on the “Think Later” tracklist. Of course, the long anticipated song did not disappoint with lines like “I wanna kiss you when I hate you and then leave instead” and “I wanna kill you, then I call you and say, ‘Get in my bed.’”
This entire album was phenomenal — it exceeded all my expectations. Honestly, it’s a solid five out of five; there isn’t a single song I would skip. I could listen to it on repeat for hours — and I have. The production, lyrics and overall vibe make it an unforgettable experience.
5/5 stars
chollywo@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of @tatemcrae, Instagram
